Thousands celebrate after a five-year break

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Ahlhorn – Rolf Löschen, chairman of the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Association, known to most as “Rollo”, was not the only one who was delighted to see the marquee tent full on Saturday evening. Löschen and the “Citizens’ Festival” working group, headed by Samuel Stoll, had done a lot of preparatory work over the past two years. The last Citizens’ Festival took place in 2018. “After five years, we can all meet and celebrate again in this great setting of the Citizens’ Festival,” said Löschen. The applause and cheers at the evening party with the “Dorfreckers Döhlen”, the band “Promise” and the “Blues Brother Double” proved the organizers right.

The people of Ahlhorn had to wait a long time for another community festival. The anticipation and party mood not only at the climax of the three-day event with the parade through Ahlhorn and the surrounding area shows how long the wait was. On Saturday evening, the chairman and his deputy Petra Rabius-Hermann thanked the working group with Samuel Stoll, Marie-Jose and Rainer Niehsen, Ralf Woldeit, Doris Rönnau and Maria Wübbeler with a gift. According to Stoll, there was one disappointment: “Now we have to wait another five years until we can celebrate another community festival here.”

Good mood

Afterwards, the party in the well-filled 1,000-person tent meant dancing and good cheer until late into the night. There were also 16 women and men from the Belgian partner municipality of Evergem, who had set off by bus and car to celebrate the new community festival with old and familiar friends.

The Ahlhorn sports club also took part in the parade during the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival with a colorfully decorated float.

Peter Kratzmann

The traditional community Fliegerhorst Ahlhorn joined the parade at the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival with a creatively designed float.

Peter Kratzmann

The flag wavers from the partner municipality Evergem thrilled the spectators at the parade of the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival.

Peter Kratzmann

The Sannum estate was also part of the parade during the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival with a colorful float.

Peter Kratzmann

Walking groups also took part in the parade at the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival. Nina Brüning from “NB Unikate”, for example, advertised her gifts and handicrafts.

Peter Kratzmann

The Ahlhorner SV also distributed small flags to the spectators during the parade for the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival.

Peter Kratzmann

Despite the grey clouds, thousands of visitors did not miss the big parade on Sunday. 53 teams, including nine walking groups, paraded 4.7 kilometers through the streets of Ahlhorn. The highlight was the Wildeshauser Straße/Am Lemsen/Zeppelinstraße intersection. The procession passed through here three times. The parade participants were cheered and celebrated by the many citizens on the side of the road in a great mood. Finally, the parade climaxed at the village community center by the festival tent and the small town of stalls and at the same time heralded the end of the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival 2024.

Colorful market activity at the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival.

Peter Kratzmann

The children’s afternoon at the Ahlhorn village community center attracted many girls and boys with a varied program.

Peter Kratzmann

The children’s afternoon at the Ahlhorn village community center attracted many girls and boys with a varied program.

Peter Kratzmann

Jolly and Ronja entertained the children with a mixture of clowning and comedy at the community festival in the Ahlhorn village community center.

Peter Kratzmann

Jolly and Ronja entertained the children with a mixture of clowning and comedy at the community festival in the Ahlhorn village community center.

Peter Kratzmann

Jolly and Ronja entertained the children with a mixture of clowning and comedy at the community festival in the Ahlhorn village community center.

Peter Kratzmann

Gerd Varnhorn took part in the tractor show as part of the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival.

Peter Kratzmann

At the trade fair during the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival, entrepreneurs meet and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere.

Peter Kratzmann

There was a lot to do for the helpers at the entrance to the festival tent on Saturday evening at the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival.

Peter Kratzmann

There was a lot to do for the helpers at the entrance to the festival tent on Saturday evening at the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival.

Peter Kratzmann

Many people danced exuberantly in the marquee at the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival on Saturday evening.

Peter Kratzmann

Many people danced exuberantly in the marquee at the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival on Saturday evening.

Peter Kratzmann

The band Promise performed at the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival.

Peter Kratzmann

The Döhler Dorfrocker ensure a good atmosphere at the Ahlhorn Citizens’ Festival.

Peter Kratzmann

Hits and children’s dance

The festival was already well attended on Friday with the senior citizens’ afternoon and the well-known pop singer Elvira Fischer in the marquee. At the same time, the kids’ dance day took place in the village community center and in the evening the drag show promised high-quality comedy in the marquee and later dancing fun with DJ Henry Deye.

The flea market, a trade fair with companies from the community in the marquee and, above all, the children’s afternoon with Jolly and Ronja in the village community center offered a colorful hustle and bustle for the whole family on Saturday. The community festival Saturday ended with the concert party in the marquee.

Sunday, the third and final day of the community festival, began with an ecumenical service. At 1 p.m. the parade began with the participation of the Höltinghausen music corps and the Großenkneten marching band. The crowning finale of the festival will be the laser show in the evening and the big party in the marquee with DJ Markus.